CULTURAL INFLUENCES ON TEMPERAMENT - A COMPARISON OF ITALIAN, ITALO-AUSTRALIAN, AND ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN TODDLERS

The temperament of three groups of 1- to 3-year-old children from Italy and Australia was compared using Australian and Italian versions of the Toddler Temperament Scale (Fullard, McDevitt, & Carey, 1984). Italians, Australians, and Italo-Australians (Italian parent but living in Australia) differed on Intensity, Threshold, Approach, and Persistence dimensions of temperament, in ways which supported the stereotype of the sociable and "emotional" Italian temperament type. Overall, the Australians and the Italians were most different, with the Italo-Australians in between. Developmental differences in all groups were also observed. Mothers' overall ratings of the child's temperament was predicted by similar variables in the two Australian groups, but not in the Italian group. The findings support an interactional view of child temperament in its effects on development.